Contents

Clearing Puget Sound 4 January 1938, Jarvis operated along the California coast and in the Caribbean until 1 April 1940 when she departed San Diego for fleet exercises off the Hawaiian Islands. She arrived Pearl Harbor 26 April, cruised the Pacific to Midway and Johnston Islands, and steamed to San Francisco 8 February 1941 for overhaul. Returning to Pearl Harbor 17 April to commence more than seven months of intensive maneuvers as part of Destroyer Division Eight (DesDiv 8) of Destroyer Squadron Four, she put into Pearl Harbor 4 December following exercises off Maui Island.

Three days later the Japanese executed the carefully planned, devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. Moored next to Mugford(DD-389) in berth B6 of the Navy yard for minor repairs, Jarvis opened fire with 5-inch guns and machine guns and made preparations to get underway. Within minutes of the initial attack, her 5-inch guns were among the first to challenge the enemy raiders, and her gunners proudly claimed four planes. As the first wave of enemy bombers raked Battleship Row with torpedoes and bombs, Ensign W. F. Greene laconically appraised the situation with the following entry in Jarvis' Deck Log: "0758 Hostilities with Japan commenced with air raid on Pearl Harbor. Went to General Quarters." Emerging from the attack with no loss of crew and only superficial damage, Jarvis sortied that morning with several cruisers and destroyers to conduct surveillance and ASW patrols.

On the 16th she cleared Pearl Harbor with Saratoga (CV-3) and joined Task Force 14, steaming to relieve the beleaguered defenders on Wake Atoll. Recalled to Pearl Harbor 23 December, after the rescue mission aborted, Jarvis returned the 29th to resume ASW patrols. While operating with Lexington (CV-2) and her screening cruisers, Jarvis rescued 182 survivors of the stricken fleet oiler Neches (AO-5) 6 hours after she was torpedoed during mid-watch 23 January 1942.

Jarvis departed Pearl Harbor 5 February to escort a convoy to Brisbane, Australia. Following her return 27 March, she sailed 8 April for San Francisco to undergo alterations with the other ships of DesRon Four. She returned to Pearl 18 May escorting 13 ships and proceeded 5 days later via Fiji to Sydney, Australia. Arriving 18 June, she commenced convoy escort and ASW patrols from Australia to New Caledonia, continuing this duty until called to participate in the invasion of Guadalcanal.

Steaming from Sydney 14 July, Jarvis arrived Wellington, New Zealand, the 19th to join Task Force 62, which sailed 22 July for the Solomons. After conducting rehearsal landings in the Fiji Islands 28–30 July, the invasion force of 84 ships and 20,000 marines steamed for Guadalcanal 31 July. Protected from Japanese search planes by rain and heavy mists, the force arrived off the landing beaches at dawn 7 August.

Following naval and air bombardment of enemy defenses, the first amphibious operation of the war commenced at 0650. Jarvis patrolled watchfully as part of the protective screen while Marines established a beachhead. As landing operations progressed, Americans expected the Japanese to strike vigorously at the transports with land-based planes. However, during two attacks which occurred that afternoon the Americans sustained only minor damage on Mugford (DD-389) while splashing 14 enemy planes.

Following night patrol off the southern end of Savo Island, Jarvis returned to Lunga Point to screen the unloading transports. Warning of an impending air attack suspended these operations; and the transports and their protective screen of destroyers and cruisers deployed in the body of water between Guadalcanal and Florida Island, soon to be called "Ironbottom Sound". When enemy torpedo bombers appeared about noon 8 August, they met a lethal stream of antiaircraft fire. Only 9 of the 26 planes penetrated the defensive fire, but they set George F. Elliott (AP-13) ablaze and torpedoed Jarvis.

With 5-inch shells and machine gun fire pouring out at the attackers, Jarvis maneuvered between Vincennes (CA-44) and one of the planes during the thick of the fight. As antiaircraft fire consumed the plane, its torpedo exploded against Jarvis' starboard side near the forward fireroom, stopping her dead in the water and killing 14 crewmen. Her crew jettisoned the port torpedoes and quickly brought under control the fires that followed the explosion. Dewey (DD-349) towed her to shallow anchorage off Lunga Point; and, after the attack, she crossed "Iron-bottom Sound" to Tulagi, where she transferred her seven wounded and commenced emergency repairs.

Despite a 50-foot gash in her side, she was considered seaworthy and ordered to proceed under cover of darkness to Efate, New Hebrides, escorted by the minesweeper Hovey. Apparently unaware of the order because her radios had been disabled, her skipper, Lt. Comdr. William W. Graham Jr., decided to steam to Sydney, Australia, for immediate repairs from Dobbin (AD-3). Unnoticed by her own ships, Jarvis departed Tulagi at midnight 9 August and moved slowly westward through "Ironbottom Sound" and between Savo Island and Cape Esperance. At 0134 she passed 3,000 yards northward of Rear AdmiralMikawa's cruisers, steaming to meet the Americans at the costly Battle of Savo Island. Mistaking her for a cruiser of the New Zealand Achilles-class, they fired torpedoes, and destroyer Yūnagi later engaged her briefly, all without effect.

The destroyer, continuing to retire westward, had little speed, no radio communications, and few operative guns; but she refused aid from Blue (DD-387) upon being sighted at 0325. After daybreak a Saratoga-based scout plane sighted her 40 miles off Guadalcanal, trailing fuel oil and down by the bow. That was the last time Americans saw her.

The Japanese, however, still mistaking Jarvis for an escaping cruiser, dispatched 31 planes from Rabaul to search out and destroy her. Once discovered, the determined, but badly damaged, destroyer was no match for bombers raking the ship with bullets and torpedoes. According to Japanese records, Jarvis "split and sank" at 1300 on 9 August. None of her 233 remaining crew survived the onslaught.

26. Site of Philip Phillips, Esq.'s house. He was a son of Thomas Phillips, the second settler in the town, and was a very intelligent and influential man. He had thirteen children—eleven of whom were sons, each one over six feet tall. Esquire Phillips was an officer in the French and Indian war of 1750. He formed his sons into a company and took great pride in exhibiting them at military trainings.

27. Residence of Mr. Samuel A. Hall. Previous to 1800 this housestood about 20 rods south of I, and was occupied by David, son of John Balding.

28. Site of a house on Bellows Hill, where Philip Phillips, Esq., once lived. Samuel Annable also lived there for a time. This is near the southwest corner of lot or Right No. 1. The old cellar-hole is yet visible.

29. Site of Heber's cabin, on the west side of Bellows Hill. Heber was a black man, said to have been brought a slave from Africa. He came to Ashfield with the Phillipses, from Easton, or the eastern part of the State. Lot or Right No. 1, where his cabin was built, was taken by him from the original Proprietors. Lots 2, 3 and 4 were on the west from this lot. Lots 7, S and 9 were on the east side of lot No. 1. That Heber was an honest and respected man is evident from the early records of the town, where he is mentioned in several places, when taxes were assessed to him, as "Heber honestman," a compliment which any person might be proud of.

...

32.Site of residence of Thomas Phillips, Sr., brother ofRichard Ellis'wife, he was the second settler in the town. There is a tradition that his first house was about 50 rods south of 32, near the point marked O, and a few rods northeasterly from the fort, where there is yet to be seen a cellar hole. Nearly opposite (32) lived Thomas Phillips Jr., and after him his son, Russell Phillip*, who married Rhoda, eldest daughter of HannahEllisWilliams (sec page 101). All of their children were born on this place.

When Thomas, Sr., settled in Ashfield, there came with him a colored man, Heber (Honestman), by name, and his wife. It is said that this colored woman was a nurse for the children, and in return for her and her husband's kindness, they were taken care of by Capt. Philip Phillips in their old age. Heber occupied a cabin at 29, just north of Capt. Phillips, a short distance above the spring. According to the old Congregational records, Heber joined that body at its formation in 1763, and died in 1768, aged 67 years.

We have quite a few ancestors buried in Pudding Hollow Cemetery. The area, (Pudding Hollow) is named for the famous pudding contest that started with our ancestor, Abigail and her victory in what came to be a still ongoing traditional cooking contest.

Philanthropy of our GG Grandfather Levi Miller

Orphans and Widows Home

Becomes large modern nursing residence "Timbercrest"

About 1889 Levi P. Miller, one of the early settlers of Jefferson
township and a devout member of the German Baptist church, donated
a site and erected a building near Mexico for an "Old Folks' and
Orphan Children's Home," on condition that the churches of his
denomination in what is known as the Middle District of Indiana sup-
port the institution. When the home was first opened the old folks
and children were kept together, but it was soon discovered that the
playfulness of the young ones was sometimes annoying to the elder
inmates, or that the sedateness of the old served to check the natural
tendency of the children to amuse themselves. Other buildings were
therefore erected so that the homes are kept separate, though under the
same management. Orphans are received from a number of counties
in central and northern Indiana and are well cared for at the home, at
a charge of twenty-five cents per day for each child, until suitable
homes can be found for them. The institution is under the control of
a board of five directors, selected by the German Baptist church, and
for a number of years Rev. Frank Fisher has held the position of
superintendent. Mr. Fisher publishes a paper called The Orphan,
which has a large circulation in Indiana and adjoining states. Although
the home is not, strictly speaking, a charitable institution in the sense
that it dispenses alms or aid in a general way, it has done a great work
in finding homes for orphan children and in caring for old people, who
might otherwise have become a charge upon the county.

MEXICO ORPHANS HOME [Mexico, Miami County]
The editor of the Macy Monitor recently visited the orphans' home at Mexico which is conducted by Rev. Frank Fisher. He was favorably impressed with the excellent management everywhere manifest. The Monitor says: "He has children there from almost everywhere, and is fortunate in finding them homes. The work that is being done there stands at the head of philanthropic enterprises and is justified from a business standpoint by the fact that it is self-supporting. The home was started by the munificence of Levi Miller, a well-to-do farmer who lives in that neighborhood, and contains sixteen acres. There has been added since, fifteen acres, which gives work to all the children during the summer. It is an ideal place for children who are left alone in the world. At present there are forty children. there."
[Rochester Sentinel, Tuesday, October 30, 1900]

NEWS OF THE DAY
The Mexico Orphans Home reports the following Fulton County children in the Home: Daisy Kershner; Alfred, Fern, Burdell and Fred Gray; and Clara and Fred White.
[Rochester Sentinel, Thursday, May 16, 1907]

MEXICO ORPHANS' HOME NOW FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE
Peru, Ind., Nov. 12 - The Mexico Welfare Home, operated by the Church of the Brethren for more than 50 years, will no longer care for orphaned children and in the future will be used only as a home for elderly persons. This change was made effective today and more than 25 orphans who were in the institution were placed in private homes in Miami and adjoining counties.
The welfare law enacted by the state legislature several years ago makes provisions for the support of homeless children. Since the law went into effect more children are being placed in private homes and there has been a large decrease in the number of applicants at orphan homes thruout the state.
The Mexico institution was founded in 1888 by Levi P. Miller, and a few years later an Old Folks Home was established there. As many as 175 children have been enrolled at the orphan Home. Miss Mary South is the present superintendent.
Rev. Frank Fisher, 85, who was superintendent of the Welfare Home for 35 years, now is a resident there, having his own cottage.
The News-Sentinel, Thursday, November 12, 1942]

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Calvin Coolidge, 8th Cousin

Quiet President related through the Bakers

John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. (July 4, 1872 – January 5, 1933) was the 30thPresident of the United States (1923–1929). A Republicanlawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state. His conduct during the Boston Police Strike of 1919 thrust him into the national spotlight and gave him a reputation as a man of decisive action. Soon after, he was elected as the 29thVice President in 1920 and succeeded to the Presidency upon the sudden death of Warren G. Harding in 1923. Elected in his own right in 1924, he gained a reputation as a small-government conservative, and also as a man who said very little.
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Jane Seymour (c. 1508 – 24 October 1537) was Queen of England as the third wife of King Henry VIII. She succeeded Anne Boleynas queen consort following the latter's execution for trumped up charges of high treason, incest and adultery in May 1536. She died of postnatal complications less than two weeks after the birth of her only child, a son who reigned as Edward VI. She was the only one of Henry's wives to receive a queen's funeral, and his only consort to be buried beside him in St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, as she was the only consort to have a male heir to survive infancy.

She was not educated as highly as King Henry's previous wives, Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. She could read and write a little, but was much better at needlework and household management, which were considered much more necessary for women.[4] Jane's needlework was reported to be beautiful and elaborate; some of her work survived up to 1652, when it is recorded to have been given to the Seymour family. After her death, it was noted that Henry was an "enthusiastic embroiderer".[5]

She became a maid-of-honour in 1532 to Queen Catherine, but Jane may have served Catherine as early as 1527, and went on to serve Queen Anne Boleyn. The first report of Henry VIII's interest in Jane Seymour was in early 1536, sometime before the death of Catherine of Aragon.

Jane was noted to have a childlike face, as well as a modest personality.[6] According to the Imperial Ambassador Eustace Chapuys, Jane was of middling stature and very pale; he also commented that she was not of much beauty. However, John Russell stated that Jane was "the fairest of all the King's wives." [7] Polydore Vergil commented that she was "a woman of the utmost charm in both character and appearance."[8]

King Henry VIII was married to Jane at the Palace of Whitehall, Whitehall, London, in the Queen's closet by Archbishop Cranmer[9] on 30 May 1536, just eleven days after Anne Boleyn's execution. As a wedding gift the King made her a grant of 104 manors in 4 countries as well as a number of forests and hunting chases, for her jointure, the income to support her during their marriage.[10] She was publicly proclaimed as queen consort on 4 June. Jane’s well-publicized sympathy for the late Queen Catherine and the Lady Mary showed her to be compassionate, and made her a popular figure with the common people and most of the courtiers.[11] She was never crowned, due to a plague in London where the coronation was to take place. Henry may have been reluctant to crown Jane before she had fulfilled her duty as a queen consort by bearing him a son and a male heir.[12]

As queen, Jane Seymour was said to be strict and formal. Her motto was "Bound to obey and serve." [12]

She was close to her female relations, Anne Stanhope (her brother's wife) and her sister, Elizabeth. Jane was also close to the Lady Lisle along with her sister-in-law the Lady Beauchamp. Jane considered Lisle's daughters as ladies-in-waiting and she left many of her possessions to Beauchamp. Jane would form a very close relationship with Mary Tudor. The lavish entertainments, gaiety, and extravagance of the Queen's household, which had reached its peak during the time of Anne Boleyn, was replaced by a strict enforcement of decorum. For example, she banned the French fashions that Anne Boleyn had introduced. Politically, Seymour appears to have been conservative.[13] Her only reported involvement in national affairs, in 1536, was when she asked for pardons for participants in the Pilgrimage of Grace. Henry is said to have rejected this, reminding her of the fate her predecessor met with when she "meddled in his affairs".[14]

Jane put forth much effort to restore Henry's first child, Princess Mary, to court and heir to the throne behind any children that Jane would have with Henry. Jane brought up the issue of Mary's restoration both before and after she became Queen. While Jane was unable to restore Mary to the line of succession, Jane was able to reconcile her with Henry.[12] Eustace Chapuys wrote to Charles V of Jane's compassion and efforts on behalf of Mary's return to favour. A letter from Mary to Jane shows that Mary was grateful to Jane. While it was Jane who first pushed for the restoration, Mary and Elizabeth were not reinstated in the succession until Henry's sixth wife, Queen Catherine Parr, convinced him to do so.[15]

In early 1537, Jane became pregnant. During her pregnancy, she developed a craving for quail, which Henry ordered for her from Calais and Flanders. During the summer, she took no public engagements and led a relatively quiet life, being attended by the royal physicians and the best midwives in the kingdom.[16] She went into confinement in September 1537 and gave birth to the coveted male heir, the future King Edward VI of England at two o'clock in the morning[17] on 12 October 1537 at Hampton Court Palace.[18]

Death

Edward was christened on 15 October 1537, without his mother in attendance, as was the custom. Both of the King's daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, were present and carried the infant's train during the ceremony.[19] After the christening, it became clear that Jane Seymour was seriously ill.[20]

Jane Seymour's labour had been difficult, lasting two nights and three days, probably because the baby was not well positioned.[21] According to King Edward's biographer, Jennifer Loach, Jane Seymour's death may have been due to an infection from a retained placenta.

According to Alison Weir, death could have also been caused by puerperal fever due to a bacterial infection contracted during the birth or a tear in her perineum which became infected. "Within a few weeks of the death of Queen Jane there existed conflicting testimonies concerning the cause of her demise. The two official versions (carrying the approval of the crown) admitted to Englishmen at home that (1) Prince Edward had been delivered by Caesarean section after his mother had died, and to the English ambassadors and the French court that (2) the queen died of a great cold and improper foods some time after the birth of a son. The unapproved and anti-Henrician view offered another explanation and argued that (3) the queen had been 'cut before she was dead' in order to save the life of the child. This interpretation of the death of Queen Jane obviously blackened Henry's reputation as a husband and silently warned European monarchs to reject matrimonial proposals from such a self-serving king. Since Caesarean section was permitted only on dead or dying mothers, and since there was considerable evidence that the queen lived a number of days after the prince's birth, Henry's actions in 1537 would have been universally condemned." [22]

Contents

Thomas spent his childhood in Wulfhall, outside Savernake Forest, in Wiltshire. Historian David Starkey describes Thomas thus: "tall, well-built and with a dashing beard and auburn hair, he was irresistible to women." A prominent Tudor courtier, Sir Nicholas Throckmorton, described Thomas Seymour as "hardy, wise and liberal... fierce in courage, courtly in fashion, in personage stately, in voice magnificent, but somewhat empty of matter."

The Seymour family's power grew during Henry VIII's marriage to Anne Boleyn, to whom Jane Seymour was a lady in waiting. As Anne failed to give King Henry a son, the Seymour brothers saw an opportunity to push their sister Jane in the King's direction. Henry married Jane 11 days after Anne's execution in May 1536, and she gave birth to their son and only child — the future Edward VI — in October of the following year.

It was the elder brother, Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, who benefited most from his sister's marriage to the King. Historians have speculated whether the division between Edward and Thomas began at that time, as Thomas unsurprisingly began to resent his brother and the relationship between them began to dissolve. Although Thomas was named Lord High Admiral, he was consumed by jealousy of his brother's power and influence.

In 1543, John Neville, 3rd Baron Latimer, died leaving a wealthy widow, formerly Catherine Parr. An attachment then developed between Catherine and Thomas. Unfortunately for Thomas, Henry VIII also became interested in Catherine and eventually married her, having been impressed with her dignity and intelligence. Jealous of Seymour's attentions to Catherine, the King sent Thomas away on a diplomatic mission to the Netherlands. Thomas also served as a Knight of the shire for Wiltshire in 1545.

Henry VIII died in January 1547, leaving Catherine one of the wealthiest women in England. Thomas had been made Master-General of the Ordnance in 1544 and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports in 1545. He returned to court a few months before Henry's death and saw his brother Edward become Lord Protector of England and, in effect, ruler of the realm asRegent for his nephew, Henry VIII's minor son and successor, the short-lived Edward VI. As part of an "unfulfilled gifts clause" left unmentioned in Henry's will, Thomas was granted the title Baron Seymour of Sudeley. However, Thomas's fervent desire was to unseat and replace his brother as Lord Protector.

Though Thomas Seymour's name had been linked to Mary Howard, Duchess of Richmond, he was still unmarried at the time of the King's death. One view is that Thomas schemed to marry either Mary or Elizabeth, Henry VIII's daughters by his first two marriages, and there were rumours that he attempted to pursue a relationship with Elizabeth, still in her early teens. If he hoped for such a marriage as a route to power, he was unsuccessful, though his secret marriage to Catherine Parr, Elizabeth's guardian, in late April 1547 was viewed by some as an attempt to become close to Elizabeth. Certainly, many regarded this marriage as having occurred too quickly after the King's death. Anne Stanhope, Somerset's proud wife, disliked Catherine and Thomas, and began to turn many people in court against them. To demonstrate her hatred, Anne kept the Queen's jewels, which were also claimed by Catherine.

Elizabeth had gone to live with her stepmother in Chelsea after Henry VIII's death. Thomas, therefore, acquired the guardianship of Elizabeth and also of Lady Jane Grey, another young member of the household. The over-ambitious Thomas started to make advances toward Elizabeth, sneaking into "the Lady Elizabeth's chamber before she was ready, and sometimes before she did rise; and if she were up he would bid her good morrow and ask how she did, and strike her upon the back or on the buttocks familiarly..." Thomas, while doing this, was often only partly dressed. He was 40; she was just 14. As gossip began to spread, Kat Ashley, Elizabeth's governess, implored Seymour to quit his bedroom antics. Indignant, Thomas retorted, "By God's precious soul, I mean no evil, and I will not leave it!" Strange episodes followed as he continued his advances towards Elizabeth. Historian David Starkey writes, "He may have even sexually abused her; at the very least he abused his power."[2] Elizabeth was confused by these affairs. Sometimes she acted as if it were all a game; other times she would become offended. Although Elizabeth's governess at one time averred that the Queen had found Elizabeth in Seymour's arms (implying a sexual encounter or close to it), she later withdrew the story. Catherine did, nevertheless, try to save Elizabeth's reputation by sending her away to the house of Anthony Denny in Hertfordshire. However, when Catherine died in childbirth in August 1548, Thomas renewed his attentions to Elizabeth.

Thomas also bribed a man called John Fowler, one of King Edward VI's closest servants, from whom he received information that the King frequently complained about the lack of pocket money he received. Thomas smuggled money to the King and began to voice open disapproval of his brother's administrative skills. As Lord High Admiral, he was able to control the English navy, and he openly asked people for support in case of a coup. As admiral, he also encouraged piracy, after bidding to capture the pirate Thomas Walton, Thomas Walton instead made an agreement for a share of all booty seized by him. He was completely and thoroughly indiscreet in his bid for power.

Thomas seems also to have hoped to finance a coup by bribing the vice-treasurer of the Bristol Mint, Sir William Sharington. Sharington was responsible for debasing the coinage in Bristol and he had been fiddling the account books and keeping the majority of the profit. When Thomas learned of the scheme, he blackmailed Sharington.

By the end of 1548, Thomas's plans had been reported to the Privy Council by an informant. The Bristol Mint was investigated and Sharington revealed all. Somerset attempted to protect his brother and called a council meeting that Thomas was supposed to attend in order to explain his actions. However, Thomas did not appear and developed a plan to kidnap the King.

On the night of 16 January 1549, Thomas broke into the King's apartments at Hampton Court Palace. He entered the privy garden and awoke one of the King's pet spaniels. Alerted, the dog tried to bite Thomas, who killed it with a sword.[3] The guards arrested Thomas, and he was sent to the Tower of London. On 18 January, the council sent agents to question everyone associated with Thomas, including Elizabeth.

On 22 February, the council officially accused him of 33 charges of treason. Somerset delayed signing the death warrant, so the council went to Edward VI for his signature. On 20 March, Seymour was executed at the Tower, dying "dangerously, irksomely and horribly." His daughter by Catherine Parr, Mary Seymour, was placed in the care of the Duchess of Suffolk, Catherine Brandon. Mary should have been left wealthy, but her mother, dying at her birth, had left her entire fortune to Thomas. When Thomas was executed, the crown confiscated everything he had, including Catherine's bequest. The child appears to have died around the age of two, when she disappears from the historical record. The title "Baron of Sudeley" passed to Catherine Parr's brother, William.[citation needed]